Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral & Guatavita Lagoon Private Tour

Two of Colombia's most legendary sites in one day, 180 meters underground and 3,100 meters high.

This private tour from Bogotá takes you to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá—the world's only subterranean Catholic church carved inside a former salt mine—and the sacred Guatavita Lagoon, birthplace of the El Dorado legend. Your own driver-guide handles transport and timing; hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant, and entrance fees to both sites are included. The 10-hour day unfolds at your pace, with stops in the colonial towns of Zipaquirá and Guatavita between the two main attractions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lagoon

• Hotel pickup in Bogotá
• Drive to Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral
• Explore underground Salt Cathedral
• Walk around Zipaquirá colonial town
• Visit Guatavita new town
• Walk scenic trails at Guatavita Lagoon
• Return to Bogotá

The Experience

How do you see two of Colombia's most extraordinary sites without the logistics of public transport or a shared group? This private tour answers that by pairing you with your own driver-guide for the full day. Hotel pickup in Bogotá starts the journey; after just over an hour through the northern outskirts, you arrive at Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral. The site itself is the draw: an underground sanctuary carved 180 meters beneath the earth inside a former salt mine, with shadow-lit tunnels and artistic salt carvings that make it the world's only subterranean Catholic church. Your guide shares stories of the ancient salt empire that once thrived here, and you walk through at your own pace.

Between the two main stops, you have time in Zipaquirá's colonial town—cobbled streets, colorful facades, artisan shops and cafés where local coffee mixes with the rhythm of small-town life. Then the route climbs toward Guatavita, a white-walled village rebuilt in the 1960s after the original town was submerged to create the Tominé Reservoir. Spanish colonial architecture and panoramic views of the water frame the artisan markets and traditional crafts your guide will explain. Lunch at a local restaurant happens during the day, included in the tour price.

The final stop is Guatavita Natural Park, where the emerald lagoon sits at 3,100 meters above sea level, cradled in the mountains. This is the site that gave birth to the El Dorado legend—where indigenous Muisca rituals once offered gold to the gods beneath the still waters. Scenic trails wind through high-altitude flora; the air is crisp and thin, and the connection between the landscape and the ancestral beliefs it holds is visible in every direction. Entrance to the lake and the park is included, and the drive back to Bogotá closes the 10-hour day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in private transportation.
• entrance fees to both the Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lagoon.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• a private driver-guide for the full day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Cielo.Travel

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want to see two major sites without coordinating public transport or joining a shared group. The private format and your own driver-guide mean timing stays flexible—you set the pace at each stop, and the day holds together without anyone building it.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá?

The Salt Cathedral is an underground church carved entirely inside a former salt mine, 180 meters beneath the earth. It is the world's only subterranean Catholic church, with shadow-lit tunnels and artistic salt carvings throughout. Your guide shares the history of the ancient salt empire that once operated there, and you walk through the sanctuary at your own pace.

What is the Guatavita Lagoon and why is it famous?

Guatavita Lagoon is a sacred lake at 3,100 meters above sea level in the mountains near Bogotá. It is the site that inspired the El Dorado legend—according to Muisca mythology, indigenous rituals once offered gold to the gods in its waters. The lagoon sits in Guatavita Natural Park, where scenic trails let you walk through high-altitude landscape and feel the connection between the site and the ancestral beliefs it holds.

How long is the drive from Bogotá to the Salt Cathedral?

The drive from your hotel in Bogotá to Zipaquirá's Salt Cathedral takes just over an hour through the city's northern outskirts. Hotel pickup is included, so your driver-guide collects you and handles all transport for the full 10-hour day.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in private transportation, entrance fees to both the Salt Cathedral and Guatavita Lagoon, lunch at a local restaurant, and a private driver-guide for the full day. You do not arrange transport or book the sites separately.

Is there time to explore the towns of Zipaquirá and Guatavita?

Yes. After the Salt Cathedral, you have time to wander Zipaquirá's colonial town—its cobbled streets, colorful facades, artisan shops and cafés. Later, you explore Guatavita's white-walled village with its Spanish colonial architecture, panoramic views of the water, and artisan markets. Your guide shares the story of how Guatavita was rebuilt in the 1960s after the original town was submerged.

Can children go on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 2. Specialized infant seats are available if needed. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it does involve walking at high altitude (3,100 meters at Guatavita Lagoon) and is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.